Lee County Public Library gets new patrons

A small group of children came to read to dogs, but they were not just any dogs â" they were specially-trained canines that often visit nursing homes and other care facilities.

"It [the program] helps sometimes break barriers. You know, if the child's having difficulty or doesn't like reading too much, they enjoy reading to the dogs," said Cheryl Cohen, a member of the Delta Society, a non-profit organization that uses dogs as a means of therapy.

The program, which was designed to help children who either don't like reading or who are having difficulty reading, was the first of its kind.